Travis County DA releases records about security enhancements; cites threats against his life and home

AUSTIN, Texas - The Travis County District Attorney is releasing records regarding security enhancements he requested from county commissioners earlier this year.

"Too often, serving in elected office comes with threats of violence," said DA José Garza. "In the face of those threats, we have a responsibility to continue to ensure the fair administration of justice and to keep our families safe."

Garza said he began receiving threats of violence after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his plans to pardon Daniel Perry in April 2023. He told FOX 7 he wasn’t aware of any threats before then. Garza said the threats escalated, including threats against his life and his home.

Garza said he reported the threats to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and the Travis County Security Office.

"Some of those threats and those investigations involve ongoing criminal cases in my office and it is most appropriate for me to wait until those criminal cases have concluded before we release any additional information about them," Garza said.

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Garza said the examples of threats he shared with FOX 7 Thursday is not the worst of them.

"I do not want any of this. You know, I would much prefer to go back to a time when we did not need security, when we did not need to be constantly evaluating security threats, but it is an unfortunate part of this job," Garza said.

"There are several of them that suggested that I should be killed, that committing physical harm against me is the way to get me to change my policies and my approach."

In February 2024, Garza said he requested the Commissioners Court assess the threats. 

"I wanted to bring to the commissioners' court attention my particular circumstance, and I wanted to begin with them, a conversation about what the process was for all elected officials and what the county's response and resources would be for all elected officials," Garza said.

He said after reviewing the threats made against him, the court requested security assessments of Garza’s home.

"The sort of crux of the recommendations of those security entities was that my home needed to be hardened and that it needed to be made more difficult to get into," Garza said.

On March 19, a vague item was listed on the commissioner’s agenda. After commissioners discussed the item in executive session, they voted publicly.

"I’d like to move to direct PBO to process a budget adjustment totaling $115,000 from the general fund allocation reserve – allocated reserve – as an automatic budget adjustment as discussed in the executive session," Travis County Commissioner pct 3 Ann Howard said.

It passed unanimously.

Three weeks later, county commissioners approved a purchasing order for a little more than $64,000 for "security improvements." FOX 7 Austin submitted a public information request to the county for information about what the money was for.

The assistant county attorney stated any responsive records must be withheld under the common law physical safety exception and Texas Homeland Security Act because "release of any existing responsive information would subject an elected official to substantial threat of physical harm."

In September, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Travis County Commissioners Court for violating the Texas Open Meetings Act and said, "Travis County has illegally abused procedure to conceal self-serving decision-making, to hide from scrutiny, and to prevent citizens from knowing exactly what is being done with their money."

The next month, commissioners revoted.

"I move to approve funding in the amount of $115,000 to the district attorney for necessary security enhancements to take into and address threats and security risks at locations determined by a security assessment that are necessary to protect the district attorney and preserve his ongoing county functions and duties," Travis County Commissioner Pct 1 Jeff Travillion said.

A day after the meeting, FOX 7 received a ruling from the AG saying the county must release some of the records.

After almost a month, the district attorney is releasing some. Garza said he still believes some records regarding his security should be withheld. He’s filed an appeal against the AG.

"The Texas Attorney General’s ruling is contrary to the law, and I look forward to pursuing our security interests in district court," Garza said.

Garza said the $64,154.80 was allotted for security improvements to his home.

"The additional money was set aside in order to be able to reimburse constable officers who provided close patrol and other security services and for a short period of time, a private security contractor who provided those services when county constables were not available," Garza said.

The one county official, Judge Julie Kocurek, who survived an assassination attempt in 2015, was not provided money by the county immediately after the attack, but after Garza received county money for security, she went before commissioners and asked for some, too.

"The gunman shot me through the driver's window four times from just four feet away. At that moment, I thought I was being murdered in front of my son," Judge Julie Kocurek said before commissioners.

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County commissioners approved $500,000 to be divided among about three dozen officials for the purpose of protecting them.

"My sincere hope is that every elected official have access to the security they need based on the threats that they may be receiving," Garza said.

Garza said he still believes some records regarding his security should be withheld. He has filed an appeal against the Attorney General.

"There are details in those documents that if they were to be disclosed, would increase risk for me and for my family and so we think the law supports that position," Garza said.

Garza said security assessments are continuing to be done by the Travis County Security Office. He said threats have gone down.

FOX 7 has been told the Travis County Attorney's Office is working on sending more of the requested documents.